A continuation of my "Then & Now" photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta featuring archival and modern day images in side by side comparisons.
1950 & 2017 - Alexandra School
The original school is seen here in 1950. It was later demolished in 1970 following a fire and Alexandra was expanded to how it looks now. The original sandstone block that used to sit above the door of the old building can still be seen out front of the school today.
1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street
New cars line 2nd Street after arriving in Medicine Hat, Alberta in 1912. A lot of the historic buildings can still be seen here in 2017.
1960s & 2017 - 3rd Street
Here we see 3rd Street in the 1960s and in 2017. I heard Kresge's was kind of a big deal back in the day. And how about those cars?
1912 & 2017 - St. Barnabas Church
Here we see the construction of St. Barnabas in 1912 contrasted against the same view in 2017. This church is still looking great a century on.
1929 & 2017 - Riverside Park
Boy scouts sit around the cenotaph in Riverside Park in 1929. The 2017 image shows just how much the park has been developed over the decades with pathways, a band stand, monuments, landscaping, etc. More profoundly, it's worth noting that more names have also been added to the cenotaph following WWII, Korea, and Afghanistan.
What immediately came to mind after seeing the archival image was that these boys would have been prime fighting age when WWII broke out 10 years after this was taken.
1912 & 2017 - South Railway Street
South Railway Street has come a long way since people were parking their horse and buggy here in 1912. The Hargrave Block (now Inspire Cafe) is a notable landmark. Also, the Hooper-Huckvale Block (which would go on to become the Assiniboia Hotel in the 1950s) was built the year after this picture was taken in 1913.
1910s & 2017 - 2nd Street
Cars along 2nd Street in the 1910s contrasted against cars on 2nd Street in 2017.
1970 & 2017 - Alexandra School
The old Alexandra is seen here in the early stages of demolition in 1970 (following a fire / water damage). Contrasted with the same view of the school in 2017, it's easy to see what a remarkable structure it was.
1968 & 2017 - 3rd Street
Christmas decorations on 3rd Street in December 1968 meet a much more subdued 3rd Street in December 2017.
A continuation of my "Then & Now" photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta featuring archival and modern day images in side by side comparisons.
1955 & 2017 - Crystal Dairy Building
Trucks lined up outside of the Crystal Dairy in 1955 are contrasted against the modern day apartment building in 2017.
1920 & 2017 - 2nd Street
Elephants parade down 2nd Street in downtown Medicine Hat advertising the arrival of the circus in 1920. While part of the building in the background has since burnt down, in 2017 these elephants would be about to walk by Station Coffee Company.
1966 & 2017 - Esso Station
A brand new Esso in 1966 meets modern office space in 2017. This is the corner of 1st Street and 5th Ave. The fire hydrant is still in the same place.
1929 & 2017 - Elm Street School
While education has changed a lot between 1929 and 2017, the biggest difference to Elm Street School is actually barely visible in this archival image. Notice a few more windows peeking out from behind the school in 1929? Elm Street School originally had a giant rear wing that was later demolished in 1973.
1939 & 2017 - Train Station
Seen here in 1939, King George VI (on the right) and Queen Elizabeth arrive at the train station in Medicine Hat on their cross country tour of Canada. Leading up to the outbreak of WWII, the unprecedented scope of the visit saw the royals visit each Canadian province, traveling much of the country by rail.
Thousands upon thousands of spectators greeted the royals in each of the numerous communities and stops along the way. The tour was meant to emphasize the Dominion of Canada's independence from Britain, while also rallying support in the event of war. It marked the first time a reigning British monarch had visited Canada, and as such, the visit proved to be a huge morale booster for the country.
Medicine Hat's train station is easily recognizable in the background of this archival photograph, and the exterior still looks very much the same in 2017.
1920s & 2017 - 2nd Street
Lots of changes, but also lots of similarities along 2nd Street between the 1920s and 2017.
1962 & 2017 - 2nd Street
What's particularly interesting about the 1962 image is that the corner building is seen with a renovated mid-century facade. By contrast, the same building in 2017 was clearly refurbished at some point after 1962 to look like it originally did when it was constructed in the early 1900s.
1914 & 2017 - River View
Once again one of the defining differences between Medicine Hat nearly a century ago and Medicine Hat today - TREES!
1913 & 2017 - Rail Yard Warehouse
Seen here during construction in 1913, this rail yard warehouse is often remembered for housing the Dominion Fruit Company / Dominion Grocers. The building still stands today and looks very much the same, however I'd be really curious to see the inside.
A continuation of my "Then & Now" photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta featuring archival and modern day images in side by side comparisons.
1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street
2nd Street decorated with banners and ribbons leading up to Canada's 45th birthday in 1912.
1912 & 2017 - Connaught School
The Duke of Connaught, member of the Royal Family and Governor General of Canada, helps to lay the cornerstone at a ceremony during the construction of Connaught School. More than a century on, Connaught School is still operating and the cornerstone is still in place.
1953 & 2017 - North Railway Street
Quite a few subtle changes along North Railway.
1970s & 2017 - Courthouse
While the courthouse looks pretty much the same, you'll notice that in addition to some landscaping, the back end of the building was actually expanded.
1913 & 2017 - Downtown
You might think that I used Finlay Bridge to line up these two shots, but it's actually Fifth Avenue Church (in the centre of both images) that really showcases the surrounding change.
1912 & 2017 - Fifth Avenue Church
Construction and modern day.
1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street
2nd Street decorated with banners and ribbons leading up to Canada's 45th birthday in 1912.
1910 & 2017 - Hotel Redcliff
The original structure is still visible in the modern day image, however it's clear that a lot has changed with this hotel in Redcliff, Alberta over the last century.
1936 & 2017 - Train Station
A passenger train prepares to load at the Medicine Hat train station in 1936. Not only has passenger service since ended, this area of the train station is now part of the parking lot in 2017.
It's fascinating to look at the evolution of a community over the span of a century, especially when that community is your hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta. I've explored comparison photography before through my ghosting series, however there's something far more direct about trying to match up exact shots for side by side "then & now" examination.
What buildings have survived, how has the city grown, when was that built, and are there any hidden clues revealed by comparing? I love how looking at these images actually leads to more questions about the how, why, and when behind things changing. The history of this prairie city is still very young, and while it's easy to be nostalgic or sentimental about what's been lost, I also see these images as proof of the many ways this community has flourished.
1886 & 2017 - Downtown View
The archival image is of Medicine Hat in 1886, only 3 years after the railroad arrived and the settlement was officially founded. Notice the CPR Bridge is only single track in 1886, but was eventually upgraded to a double track as it looks today (however it's mostly obscured by trees from the same view in 2017). You can see a glimpse of Finlay Bridge in 2017 as well, but in 1886 it was still 22 years away from being built.
1906 & 2017 - Train Station
You can't really tell from this archival image, but the train station is actually half the size as it is in the modern image. It was doubled in size (by twinning the look of the station) in 1912.
1910s & 2017 - 2nd Street
On the left side of the archival image you'll notice Medicine Hat's old city hall and post office, which have since been replaced by BATUS Park and the Bank of Montreal. You can also see the Beveridge Block near the centre of both images. On the right, the Bank of Commerce was obscured by trees, but is still standing today.
1917 & 2017 - Corner of 1st Street and 6th Avenue.
This is the modern day location of Medicine Hat's City Hall, however a century ago it was where the Medicine Hat News and Empress Theatre stood.
1912 & 2017 - River View
The wider modern day shot showcases not only how much the city has grown over a century, but also how many trees were planted.
1920s & 2017 - Five Roses Flour Mill
The archival image shows the Five Roses Flour Mill after its largest expansion. The warehouse was downsized in the 1970s when the location was renovated into an inn and restaurant.
1912 & 2017 - Train Station
Separated by 105 years, the archival image shows the train station just after it was expanded that year. I like how even the trucks are in the same spot in this image.
1946 & 2017 - Intersection of 3rd Street and 6th Avenue.
The archival image is of the South Alberta Regiment returning from Europe after WWII. Despite a few changes, the intersection is still easily recognizable in both images.
1950 & 2017 - Assiniboia Inn
Prior to being renovated into the Assiniboia Hotel / Inn, the archival image shows what the Hooper-Huckvale Block looked like in 1950. Today, despite the hotel having been closed for years, the old neon sign and early 1950s exterior remain.
The following is the continuation of my downtown Calgary, Alberta ghosting series. The process of ghosting involves merging archival images with photographs of the same locations today. Here are some of the latest additions featuring Calgary's downtown core.
Burns Building - 1920 merged with 2016.
Stephen Avenue - 1940s merged with 2016.
The dramatic changes to 8th Avenue over the decades are especially clear in this image.
Palliser Hotel - 1940s merged with 2016.
Imperial Bank - 1910s merged with 2016.
It's always cool to see these old street scenes and then imagine how amazed these people would be to see the towering structures that make up the scene today.
Hudson's Bay Department Store - 1930s merged with 2016.
Minor changes to the facade show just how familiar this structure has remained over the decades.
City Hall - 1918 merged with 2016.
Calgary citizens gathered outside of City Hall to celebrate the end of World War I is contrasted with the modern surroundings of the structure today.
Grain Exchange - 1912 merged with 2016.
One of Alberta's earliest office towers is contrasted with one of its latest as the construction of Brookfield Place dominates the background.
Herald Building (on the right) - 1920s merged with 2016.
First Street West - 1930s merged with 2016.
